2022-01-10
Hebrews 3:4 NCV
Take a moment to think about the complexity of the human body, every feature, every organ, every system working together. Could something like that really bring itself into being from nothing? Given enough time, could complex systems like those in our bodies be built by chance through a series of random, unguided changes? The Bible is clear on how everything was made: ‘Every house is built by someone, but the builder of everything is God himself’ (v.4 NCV). And that means God built each one of us, too.
Dr Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, and also a believer, described exploring nature as ‘a way of getting a glimpse of God’s mind,’ and said, ‘All truth is God’s truth, and therefore God can hardly be threatened by scientific discoveries.’ Albert Einstein, one of the world’s greatest scientists, said, ‘The deeper one penetrates into nature’s secrets, the greater becomes one’s respect for God.’ And Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘The most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.’
The more closely we look at our world (and beyond it), the more we realise how complicated it all is. Science often seems to be opposed to God, but we can try to see scientific discoveries as ways of revealing how marvellous a designer and builder God really is. It’s amazing to think that we’re not only intricately made, but also uniquely created with our own personalities, skills, looks, likes and dislikes. Let’s celebrate the fact that we’re individuals, made by God for a unique purpose, and let’s praise Him for the diversity and variety He’s created.
Gen 20-23; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 46; Pro 1:32-33
2022-01-09
Acts 14:17 NLT
There’s a joke about some scientists who are arguing with God: ‘We can do transplants, clone cells, save lives, and thousands of other miraculous things. We don’t need You anymore.’ God listens patiently, then says, ‘How about this: if you can make a human, the same way I made Adam, then I’ll leave you alone.’ The scientists agree and start scooping up handfuls of dirt. But God stops them: ‘No, no. Get your own dirt.’
That’s only a joke, but a few years ago, scientists actually managed to make a very simple living cell. They copied bacteria from a goat intestine, looked at each of its genes, and turned them off one at a time. If the cell died, they determined that gene was essential to life. Eventually, they stripped it down to just 473 genes. But here’s where it gets interesting. They know the cell is alive, but they don’t know how. Nearly one third of the genes have no known purpose, but without them, the cell dies. And just like in the joke, the scientists had to start with something God had already created.
There are so many things we don’t know the answers to. God may reveal the answers to us at some point, and there may also be some things He’ll keep to Himself. We might think a single cell is quite a simple thing, but when we look at it closely, it’s so much more complex than we realise. And it’s the same with all of creation. The beauty and complexity of it is beyond anything we could invent for ourselves. The Bible says, ‘He never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness’ (v.17 NLT). We can see God’s hand everywhere, and we’re so blessed to be able to have a personal relationship with Him.
1 Sam 3:1-11; Acts 9:1-9
Handelinge 14:17 NLV
Glo jy dat daar ‘n God is wat alle dinge, insluitend vir jou, gemaak het? Ja? Dan is jy geseënd. Aan die ander kant, as jy nie in God glo nie, probeer om ‘n oog, ‘n oor of ‘n brein uit niks te maak. Of probeer om ‘n blom te skep wat nektar produseer wat deur bye (wat jy gemaak het) ingesamel kan word, en laat hulle dan hierdie nektar in heuning omskep vir jou om te eet.
Jy asem lewensnoodsaaklike suurstof in wat deur bome vrygestel word en asem dan koolstofdioksied uit wat die bome nodig het om te oorleef. Briljant, nie waar nie? Miskien is dit hoekom die meerderheid mense in ‘n Newsweek opname aangedui het dat hulle in God glo. Wat dan van die klein 3 tot 5 persent wat beweer dat hulle ateïste is? Is hulle net slimmer as die res van ons, of kyk hulle sekere voor die hand liggende bewyse mis?
‘n Ateïs word gedefinieer as iemand wat nie in God glo nie. Omdat dit egter onmoontlik is om wetenskaplik te bewys dat iets nie bestaan nie, kan ateïste nie vir seker weet dat daar nie ‘n God is nie. Hulle siening word slegs op die gebrek aan bewyse gebaseer. Die Bybel sê: ‘maar tog het Hy duidelike getuienis gegee dat dit Hy is wat die goeie dinge gee: Hy het vir julle reën gegee van die hemel af, en oeste op hulle tyd; Hy het julle volop kos gegee en in julle harte volop vreugde’ (vers 17 NLV).
Die ‘bewyse’ is reg rondom ons. God se bestaan kan bewys word. Jy kan ook ‘n persoonlike verhouding met Hom hê!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 3:1-11; Hand 9:1-9
Acts 14:17 NLT
Do you believe there is a God who made all things, including you? Yes? Then you’re blessed. On the other hand, if you don’t believe in God, try to make an eye, an ear, or a brain. Only make one…from nothing! Or create a flower that can produce nectar which can be collected by bees you made and make them transform it into honey for you to eat. You breathe in life-giving oxygen released by trees, then you breathe out carbon dioxide giving the trees what they need for their survival. Brilliant, right? And since atheists believe all this came into being without an intelligent guiding power – there was no “mind” behind creation – imagine having your brain removed and then being asked to create it.
Perhaps that’s why the majority of people in a Newsweek poll said they believe in God. So, what about the tiny 3 to 5 percent who claim to be atheists? Are they just smarter than the rest of us, or are they missing some apparent evidence? An atheist is defined as someone who doesn’t believe in God. But since it is impossible to prove scientifically that something doesn’t exist, atheists can’t know for sure that there is no God. Their view is based solely on the lack of evidence.
However, believing there is no God doesn’t mean one does not exist. The Bible says, “He never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts” (v. 17 NLT). The “evidence” is all around us. God’s existence can be proved. And you can have a personal relationship with Him!
Soul food: 1 Sam 3:1-11; Acts 9:1-9
2022-01-08
Matteus 22:37 NLV
Toe ‘n Fariseër vir Jesus vra wat die grootste gebod is, het Hy geantwoord dat hy God, ander mense en homself moet liefhê (sien verse 37-39 NLV). Let op dat Hy gesê het: ‘…Jy moet… liefhê…’ Dit sê baie van die ware aard en optrede van liefde. As liefde beveel kan word, dan kan dit nie net emosioneel of ‘n saak van gevoelens wees nie. Ware liefde is baie meer as gevoelens; dis ‘n saak van jou wil. Dis hoekom Jesus ons beveel om dit uit te druk.
Alhoewel gevoelens belangrik is, funksioneer ware liefde ongeag hoe jy voel. Mark Sanborn skryf in sy boek, The Fred Factor, die volgende: ‘Ek het lank gelede geleer dat om van mense te hou en vir hulle lief te wees, twee verskillende dinge is. Om van iemand te hou is ‘n emosionele reaksie – dis ‘n gevoel. Die probleem is dat ons nie ons emosies kan beheer nie. Ons kan beheer hoe ons daardie emosies uitdruk, maar nie die gevoel self nie. ‘n Persoon kan byvoorbeeld kwaad word, maar steeds kies om liefdevol op te tree. Miskien is dit een rede hoekom Jesus nie gesê het: ‘Hou van julle vyande,’ nie. Hy het geweet dat om van iemand te hou of nie van daardie persoon te hou nie, nie altyd binne ons onmiddellike beheer is nie. Ek het geleer dat liefde, onder andere, ‘n aksie is. Ek kan vir iemand van wie ek nie noodwendig hou nie, lief wees. Ek kan op ‘n sekere manier iets vir daardie persoon doen of teenoor hom optree, selfs al geniet ek dit nie baie nie.’
Hier is egter die merkwaardige: Wanneer jy liefdevol teenoor ‘n ander persoon optree, begin jou emosies in lyn met jou aksies beweeg. Toe, probeer dit en kyk wat gebeur!
Sielskos: Gen 17-19; Luk 1:67-80; Ps 42:6-11; Spr 1:28-31
